Independent Chinese designers want to avoid getting lumped together with the cheap goods that are still largely associated with the “Made in China” phrase in the West. Helping make this differentiation much clearer is a handful of platforms designed to support small-scale designers, creating a space for industry professionals to collaborate and address issues encircling a…
‘China Red’ Takes Hold As Top Fashion Week Trend
Looks by Tom Ford (L), Helmut Lang (C), and Bibhu Mohapatra (R, modeled by Li Wei) for F/W 2014 collections at London Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week. As Fashion Week season rolls on, designers’ efforts to appeal to the lucrative China market have been apparent in everything from their shows’ front-row guests to…
JD.com Wants to Become Key Gateway to China for U.S. Fashion Brands
A model walks the runway wearing Chi Zhang at the JD Fashion Runway Show at Pier 59 Studios on February 17, 2016 in New York City. (Albert Urso/Getty Images for JD) When Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com held its recent New York Fashion Week runway show on February 17, a group of up-and-coming designers from China…
Lane Crawford Joins Retailers’ Rush To Mainland With Shanghai Opening
The contemporary womenswear section in Lane Crawford’s new Shanghai location. (Lane Crawford) Completing a trifecta of major new department store openings in China this fall that included 10 Corso Como in Shanghai and Galeries Lafayette in Beijing, Lane Crawford opened the doors of its new China flagship store in Shanghai on October 10. The 150,000…
Skater Goes Chic In China: Vans Taps Into Chinese Creative Class
A concert at a Vans marketing event in Guangzhou. (Courtesy Photo) Known mainly in the United States as a skate shoes brand with a demographic skewing adolescent and male, Vans shoes in China appeal to a much broader, trendier consumer base. At 300-500 yuan (US$38-64) per pair, the shoes also occupy a higher price bracket…
A Victoria’s Secret-Style Runway Show with Underage Girls Sparks Controversy in China
A Victoria’s Secret-type fashion runway show featuring young Chinese girls wearing revealing lingerie and accessories has caused a public outcry in the online community in China. The organizer, a shopping mall located in Southwest China, was criticized for inappropriately sexualizing young girls. Since the story broke, first by the Daily Mail on August 9, and…
China’s High-Fashion Players Are Hungry for Sustainable Design
The luxury industry has long had its eyes on China when it comes to initiatives for eco-friendly practices, with conglomerates like Kering making major moves for bringing sustainability into its China relationships. But even on a more local level, eco-friendly efforts have been gaining momentum in the country. Across China, a growing number of high-end…
Enzo Ring Ad Queries, ‘How Many Times Do You Want To Get Married?’
A new advertising campaign by jewelry maker Enzo shows off its collection of engagement rings by asking Chinese readers how many times they want to tie the knot—however, the question is rhetorical, and meant to emphasize its wide variety of ring selections rather than a variety of spouses. According to a Chinese-language article on DamnDigital,…
Photos: China’s Sports Stars Show Off Their Lavish Lifestyles
If you’ve ever wondered which luxury brands are preferred by China’s sports stars, a comprehensive 50-photo slideshow on Chinese website 163.com should lay all questions to rest. Discovered by Abe Sauer at Brand Channel, the images shine light on the ostentatious taste of the country’s Olympians, soccer players, and basketball heroes. These photos also show the huge…
Golden Opportunity: Chinese Jewelry Brands a Solid Match for World’s Luxury Giants
A gold display at a Chow Tai Fook store in Beijing. (Jing Daily) Luxury industry commentators often discuss the fact that China has yet to produce a major luxury brand that can compete with global giants from Europe. A new study by Deloitte finds that the exceptions to this, however, are Chinese jewelers, who are…